South Korea and Myanmar have agreed to establish a memorial early this year for victims of North Korea’s bombing in Yangon in 1983, Seoul officials said.

The monument is to be erected on a 258-square-meter site at Aung San National Cemetery in the former Myanmar capital.

“We’re all set for the project, with the statue already completed by our contractor. There will be a launching ceremony next year (2014) with the families of the deceased officials,” the official said last month on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

The 730 million won ($692,000) project will honor 17 officials who were killed while accompanying then-President Chun Doo-hwan on his visit to the country.

The two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1975. Myanmar had a close relationship with Pyongyang but it severed ties after the incident.

Seoul has reengaged with Myanmar since its nominally civilian government ended the long reign of the ironfisted military junta and embarked on sweeping democratic and economic reforms in 2011.

By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)